How long can I leave a breakfast casserole assembled before baking?

You can assemble your breakfast casserole the night before and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours. This “make-ahead” method lets flavors mingle and the bread or potatoes soak up the egg mixture, so you’ll wake up ready to bake without early morning prep.

Can I swap bread for potatoes in the breakfast casserole?

Yes — you can use frozen hash browns or diced fresh potatoes instead of bread cubes. The key is using a starch that absorbs the custard-like egg mixture so the dish sets well and isn’t watery. Hash browns give a crispier texture while bread keeps it more classic.

What’s the best way to reheat leftover breakfast casserole?

For best texture, cover leftover slices and warm them in the oven at about 325 °F for 10-15 minutes, or microwave individual portions for about 1-2 minutes until heated through. This way the cheesy top remains pleasantly soft rather than rubbery.

Can I adapt the breakfast casserole for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or low-calorie diets?

Absolutely. You can omit meat and add veggies for vegetarian; replace eggs and dairy with tofu scramble and plant-milk for vegan; use gluten-free bread or skip it for gluten-free; and lighten the dish by using egg whites, skim milk, and more veggies instead of heavy cheese or sausage for a lower-calorie option.

Breakfast Casserole Recipe – Easy, Comforting & Irresistible

Name: Breakfast Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 large eggs; 2 cups whole milk or half-and-half; 1 pound breakfast sausage or bacon, cooked and crumbled; 3 cups frozen hash browns or cubed bread; 1 cup diced bell peppers; 1 cup diced onions; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

Description

If you’ve ever woken up to a kitchen full of hungry faces, you know how chaotic mornings can get. That’s where the breakfast casserole comes in—a one-dish wonder that turns simple ingredients into something comforting, hearty, and crowd-pleasing.

Ingredients

Scale

12 large eggs
2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
1 pound breakfast sausage or bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 cups frozen hash browns or cubed bread
1 cup diced bell peppers
1 cup diced onions
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon smoked paprika

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Instructions

Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread bread cubes or hash browns evenly.
Cook sausage or bacon until browned. Sauté onions and peppers until tender.
Whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika together.
Layer bread or potatoes, cooked meat, veggies, and cheese in the dish.
Pour egg mixture evenly over the top, ensuring all layers are soaked.
Cover and refrigerate overnight or bake immediately at 350°F for 45–50 minutes until golden and set.
Let cool for 5–10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Make ahead by assembling the casserole the night before for easy baking in the morning.
Customize ingredients to your taste—add spinach, mushrooms, or different cheeses.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 320
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 610mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 11g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 14g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 18g
Cholesterol: 220mg